American Evaluation Association – Association of evaluators devoted to application and exploration of program and personnel evaluation, technology and other forms of evaluation.
http://www.eval.org

AEA: Links of Interest to Evaluators – Extensive information and background resource listing.
http://www.eval.org/ListsLinks/EvaluationLinks/links.htm

American Productivity and Quality Center - Resource for process and performance improvement, APQC helps organizations adapt to rapidly changing environments, build new and better ways to work, and succeed in a competitive marketplace. Links on the home page lead to free resources on a variety of topics including: Benchmarking, Knowledge Management, Metrics, Performance Management, Process Improvmments, Quality Programs and K-12 Education. Best Bet.
http://www.apqc.org/portal/apqc/site?path=root

American Society for Quality - You don't need to be a member to use their on-line resources at the ASQ web site which introduces you to many topics about quality. Standards and Certification provides information on the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards, QS-9000 requirements, and ASQ certification programs. ASQ Products lets you order from their online catalog or register for Education courses and Conferences. Search the on-line directory, the Virtual Quality Network, for products and services for quality and continuous improvement. The Calendar lets you view upcoming ASQ events by occasion or topic. You can Search for a specific subject by clicking the header bar on each page. An excellent resource for this community-based, national organization. Best Bet.
http://www.asq.org

Assessing Community Needs - Families and Work Institute Downloads.
http://www.familiesandwork.org/forums/download/f01.html

Assessing Community Needs and Resources - University of Dayton School of Law Class Law 691.
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/syllabi/race/Syllabus/Assessment/assess00.htm

Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources - This document provides guidance toward basic planning and implementation of an outcomes-based evaluation process (also called outcomes evaluation) in nonprofit organizations. This document provides basic guidance -- particularly to small nonprofits with very limited resources. Part of the great Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits web site.
http://www.mapnp.org/library/evaluatn/outcomes.htm

Basic Guide to Program Evaluation - This document provides guidance toward planning and implementing an evaluation process for for-profit or nonprofit programs -- there are many kinds of evaluations that can be applied to programs, for example, goals-based, process-based, outcomes-based, etc. Part of the great Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits web site.
http://www.mapnp.org/library/evaluatn/fnl_eval.htm

Benton Foundation Best Practices Toolkit - Links to documents, materials, and teaching tools for nonprofits seeking to improve communication and information technologies. Best Bet.
http://www.benton.org/
     SEPTEMBER 2001 FEATURED SITE.
     More site selections in Featured Sites Index. 

Best Practices of Nonprofits - Derived from a training program called MATRIX that was conducted in 1999 and 2000 for 15 youth-serving agencies in Whatcom County. The Whatcom Council of Nonprofits has adopted the MATRIX best practices as the foundation of technical assistance program planning. These best practices identify nine areas in which an organization's competence is critical for success. Below, each competence is linked to suggestions for getting your organization to the "best practice" level. The site includes a pdf copy you can print, and a Word copy you can edit.
http://www.wcnwebsite.org/practices/index.htm

BJA Evaluation Web Site - Bureau of Justice Assistance Evaluation site. Resources for evaluating criminal justice programs including instructional materials, glossary, evaluation resources, and reports.
http://www.bja.evaluationwebsite.org

Brief Guide to Questionnaire Development - This booklet is intended to identify some of the more prevalent problems in questionnaire development and to suggest ways of avoiding them. By Robert B. Frary, Office of Measurement and Research Service, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
http://www.ice.urv.es/trans/sociolinguistics/communities/questionnaires.htm

Canadian Evaluation Society - This professional association provides its site in both English and French. There are extensive resources on evaluation through linked external resources. Links are from around the world and on many topics. Best Bet.
http://evaluationcanada.ca/site.cgi?s=6&ss=3

CDC Evaluation Working Group - Use this web to learn about the CDC Evaluation Working Group and its effort to promote program evaluation in public health. Detailed framework for program evaluation and extensive resource links including: Ethics, Principles, and Standards; Organizations, Societies, Foundations, Associations; Journals and On-Line Publications; Step-by-Step Manuals; Logic Model Resources; Planning and Performance Improvement Tools; and Reports and Publications. Best Bet.
http://www.cdc.gov/eval/resources.htm

Center for Corporate Citizenship - Standards of Excellence - The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College, founded in 1985, provides leadership in establishing corporate citizenship as a business essential, so all companies act as economic and social assets to the communities they impact. Inlcluded is The Standards of Excellence which are seven management practices, processes, and policies that set a global standard for excellence in corporate citizenship.
http://www.bc.edu/centers/ccc/Pages/soe_tool.html

Center for Excellence in Nonprofits – Programs in leadership development, systemic change, continuous improvement and best practices. A learning community of community-based nonprofits in California's Silicon Valley to share 'lessons learned'.
http://www.cen.org

The Center for What Works – Mission is to improve the effectiveness of social policy by assisting public and nonprofit sector organizations to systematically identify and replicate best practices. Links to promising practices, a benchmarking exchange and similar organizations.
http://www.whatworks.org
[ NOVEMBER 2000 FEATURED SITE... more in Featured Sites Index. ]

Nonprofit Resources Links
http://www.whatworks.org/np-management-frame.html

Nonprofit and Technology Links
http://www.whatworks.org/np-technology-frame.html

General Links
http://www.whatworks.org/np-general-frame.html

Benchmarking Primer - 7 Steps
http://www.whatworks.org/bm-primer-frame.html

Benchmarking Glossery
http://www.whatworks.org/bm-glossary-frame.html

Essentials of Survey Research and Analysis - A WORKBOOK FOR COMMUNITY RESEARCHERS by Ronald Jay Polland, Ph.D., Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Grant, Duval County Health Department . This is a 13 lession course.
http://www.tfn.net/%7Epolland/qbook.html

Evaluation Activities in Organizations - Assembled by Carter McNamara. Quick links to overview sites, on-line guides and general resources. Part of the great Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits web site. Best Bet.
http://www.mapnp.org/library/evaluatn/evaluatn.htm

The Evaluation Center at HSRA - Technical assistance center funded by the federal government. Provides technical assistance in the area of evaluation for improving the planning, development, and operation of adult mental health services carried out as part of the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program.
http://tecathsri.org/

The Evaluation Exchange - Harvard Family Research Project's evaluation periodical, The Evaluation Exchange, addresses current issues facing program evaluators of all levels, with articles written by the most prominent evaluators in the field. Designed as an ongoing discussion among evaluators, program practitioners, funders, and policymakers, The Evaluation Exchange highlights innovative methods and approaches to evaluation, emerging trends in evaluation practice, and practical applications of evaluation theory. It goes out to its subscribers free of charge 3–4 times per year.
http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~hfrp/eval.html

Evaluation Handbook- The purpose of this document is to (1) offer some suggestions to these reforming administrators in the "how to" of a good evaluation, (2) alleviate some of the fear and mystery of evaluation, and (3) provide guidelines for evaluation.
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/eacwest/evalhbk.htm

Evidence Based Education - Provided in a Power Point or PDF version, this site is a presentation by the US Department of Education on evidence-based education. Best Bet.
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/whatworks/eb/edlite-index.html

Facts In Action: Making It Count - Comments on Measuring Program Outcomes from Associated Early Care and Education, a Boston based child care advocacy organization.
http://www.factsinaction.org/mcount/making-it-count.htm

Federal Government Performance Results Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/mgmt-gpra/gplaw2m.html

Addendum to Rules
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/print/m02-06_addendum.html

Managing for Results
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/initiati/mfr/

FedStats - Gateway to statistics for 100 Federal agencies. Links and search statistics and also agencies. FedStats is the new window on the full range of official statistical information available to the public from the Federal Government. Use the Internet's powerful linking and searching capabilities to track economic and population trends, education, health care costs, aviation safety, foreign trade, energy use, farm production, and more. Access official statistics collected and published by more than 100 Federal agencies without having to know in advance which agency produces them.
http://www.fedstats.gov/

The Finance Project - The Finance Project is a non-profit policy research, technical assistance and information organization created to help improve outcomes for children, families and communities nationwide. Its mission is to support decision making that produces and sustains good results by developing and disseminating information, knowledge, tools and technical assistance for improved policies, programs, and financing strategies. The Finance Project's work is concentrated in several areas: Financing issues and strategies related to education, family and children's services, and community building and development; Results-based planning, budgeting, management and accountability; Community supports and services that reach across categorical boundaries and the public- and private-sectors to effectively link health care, education, family support, income security and economic development; Improved governance and collaborative decision making; and Planning and implementation of comprehensive welfare and workforce development reforms. Best Bet.
http://www.financeproject.org/

FIPSE Evaluation Bibliography and Evaluation Software - This bibliography includes references on the nature of evaluation and how to plan them, how to collect, analyze and interpret evaluation data, and how to report and use evaluation findings. There are many more sources published on qualitative evaluation than on quantitative evaluation and few good references, in hard copy, on evaluating higher education technology programs. This bibliography reflects these limitations.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/biblio.html

Free Online Survey Sites - List of Web Based survey tools, with free or low cost to user.
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listsurveyci.html#cat2

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations - Grantmakers for Effective Organizations is dedicated to promoting learning and encouraging dialogue among funders committed to building strong and effective nonprofit organizations. Some of the free information includes a new publication on assessing nonprofit startups, and materials related to the organizations sponsored research. GEO's mission is to advance and expand organizational effectiveness practices in and by the philanthropy community. GEO does this by commissioning and contributing to research, developing programs and products, and building a community of practice that expands the resources available on nonprofit effectiveness. GEO's working definition of organizational effectiveness is the ability of an organization to fulfill its mission through a blend of sound management, strong governance and a persistent rededication to achieving results.
http://www.geofunders.org/

Tool for Assessing Startup Nonprofits - Designed for use by funders assessing a grant application from a startup nonprofit. The publication includes suggested interview questions and worksheets to supplement funders' regular due diligence of startup organizations.
http://www.geofunders.org/_uploads/documents/live/startupassessmenttool.pdf

Harvard Family Research Project – Conducts research about programs and policies that serve children and families. Examine and encourage enabling families and communities help children reach their potential. Link people, ideas and resources together.
http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~hfrp/index.html

The Evaluation Exchange - Interactive forum for the exchange of ideas, lessons and practices in the evaluation of family support and community development programs, promoting discussion among persons from a variety of organizational affiliations and viewpoints. Current and past issues included.
hhttp://gseweb.harvard.edu/~hfrp/eval/issue20/index.html

How and Why Nonprofits Use Outcome Information - Findings from a symposium and published by The Urban Institute. This is a PDF document, so you need Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat to open and print. Also participating in were Aspen Institute Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, Independent Sector and United Way of America.
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310464_HowAndWhy.pdf

Indiana Center for Evaluation - The Indiana Center for Evaluation conducts evaluations, and was established over 25 years ago as a collaborative venture of the School of Education at Indiana University. Its overall purpose is to promote and support systematic program evaluation, particularly for educational, human services, and non-profit organizations. Sections of the site providing valuable feedback about evaluation for nonprofits is Reports, which are writeups of evaluations from various projects in which the Center is involved, and a Links section.
http://www.indiana.edu/~iuice/index.html

InnoNet – Organized to enable public and nonprofit organizations to better plan, execute and evaluate their services and agencies. They provide a 'search service' for model programs and effective approaches to social services; and a 'participatory evaluation service'. The have what they call a 'Workstation' to help agencies develop strategic plans, program action plans, evaluation plans, program budgets, fund raising plans and grant applications. Their 'Repair Center' helps organizations improve, create and download surveys, interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, data collection and analysis tools. Best Bet.
http://www.innonet.org

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook - Presenting a framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool, and outlines a blueprint for designing and conducting evaluations. Includes case studies of the Kellogg Foundation evaluations. This is a 'pdf' file so you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Best Bet.
http://www.wkkf.org/pubs/Pub770.pdfhttp://www.wkkf.org/Programming/ResourceOverview.aspx?CID=281&ID=770

Logic Model Development Guide - Nonprofits today are being pressed to demonstrate the effectiveness of their program activities by initiating and completing outcome-oriented evaluation of projects. This guide was developed to provide practical assistance to nonprofits engaged in this process. In the pages of this guide, we hope to give staff of nonprofits and community members alike sufficient orientation to the underlying principles of "logic modeling" to use this tool to enhance their program planning, implementation, and dissemination activities. Best Bet.
http://www.wkkf.org/Programming/ResourceOverview.aspx?CID=281&ID=3669

The Learning Institute: Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool – These instruments can help guide discussion and planning by a nonprofit organization. Applicable for all stakeholders within an agency or service. The site is an Best Bet… and so is their Certificate Program – Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
http://www.snpo.org/li/

Lessons Learned - A Planning Toolsite - From the National Endowment of the Arts. Best Bet.
http://www.nea.gov/resources/Lessons/

Management Center Nonprofit Assessment Tool – A free, 8-part, 80-item online questionnaire by which organizations measure their capacity and performance. Provides an objective way to answer the questions on efficiency, effectiveness and success. Best Bet.
http://www.tmcenter.org/assessment/toolintro.html

McKinsey and Company - Insights nonprofts can use.
http://www.mckinsey.com/practices/Nonprofit/OurKnowledge/

Measuring What Matters In Nonprofits - One issue from quarterly nonprofit industry newsletter of the McKinsey consulting firm, authored by by John Sawhill. In this 10-page, pdf format article, the content is descripted as follows: "Most nonprofit groups track their performance by metrics such as dollars raised, membership growth, number of visitors, people served, and overhead costs. These metrics are important, but they don't measure the real success of an organization in achieving its mission... Every nonprofit organization, no matter what its mission or scope, needs three kinds of performance metrics: to measure its success in mobilizing its resources, its staff's effectiveness on the job, and its progress in fulfilling its mission." Best Bet.
http://www.inug.nu/files/McKinsey_Quarterly_2001_02_Sawhill_Williamson.pdf

National Network for Family Resiliency - Interactive Program Evaluation Site.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/nnfr/#top

National Results Council - The goal of the National Results Council (NRC) is to enable employment and training programs to improve benefits for consumers and communities.Within the field of employment and training, the National Results Council works with organizations nationwide in the areas of vocational rehabilitation, customized training, social security, and welfare reform. We measure and compare the results achieved by organizations. They provide feedback on program performance in their Results Report. NRC's mission is to assist people with disadvantages to become self-sufficient by tracking the performance of employment programs and reporting the results to consumers, service providers, funders, and policymakers.
http://www.nationalresultscouncil.org/

Nonprofit Organization Assessment Tool
http://www.uwex.edu/li/learner/assessment.htm

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund - The Nonprofit Sector Research Fund awards research grants and organizes convenings to expand knowledge of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, improve nonprofit practices, and inform public policy related to nonprofits. Established at The Aspen Institute in 1991, the Fund seeks to enhance both the quantity and quality of nonprofit research by increasing the legitimacy and visibility of nonprofit scholarship; encouraging new investments in sector research; supporting the exploration of tough, neglected questions and enlarging the number of creative scholars and practitioners interested in pursuing nonprofit studies. Best Bet.
http://www.nonprofitresearch.org/index.htm

Online Evaluation Resource Library - The Online Evaluation Resource Library (OERL) is composed of plans, instruments, and reports that have been used to conduct evaluations of projects funded by the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF). OERL also contains glossaries of evaluation terminology, criteria for best practices, and scenarios illustrating how evaluation resources can be used or adapted. To support collaborative deliberation and use of these materials, OERL also provides a discussion board. Best Bet.
http://oerl.sri.com

Organizational Effectiveness - An April 2002 special issue of the Philanthropy News Digest, a publication of the Foundation Center. To help nonprofits and funders get a handle on this dynamic field, Philanthropy News Digest has put together this special resource issue, which includes annotated links to Web-based resources and sites, examples of capacity-building grants, a list of related readings, and an excerpt of our interview with Barbara Kibbe, the head of the Organizational Effectiveness and Philanthropy Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This is an excellent series (the special issues) that are worth reviewing for appropriate topics every once in a while. Best Bet.
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/specialissues/item.jhtml?id=6900039
[ AUGUST 2002 FEATURED SITE... more in Featured Sites Index. ]

Organizational Self-Assessment Checklist - From the NEA 's Advancement Program and used by organizations at the beginning of their year-long planning process. The form attempts to list the major aspects of any arts organization's operations in the following categories: Organizational Purpose, Programs, Governance, Staff, Marketing, Public/Community Relations, Fundraising, Financial Management, Facilities, Planning, Communications/Decision Making, and External Environment/

http://www.nea.gov/resources/Lessons/WARSHAWSKI.HTML

Outcome Measurement in Nonprofit Organizations - Current Practices and Recommendations, a collaborative report by Independent Sector and The Urban Institute. Best Bet.
http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/outcomes.pdf

Outcome Measurement Initiative - United Way of Connecticut - Outcome Measurement resources available on this website include forms and Tools, Support Links by Service Area, Literature on the Outcome Management Process, Orientation Presentation and more. Best Bet.
http://www.ctunitedway.org/What/outcomemeasurement.asp

Peter Drucker Foundation - Self Assessment and Collaboration Guides; also Leader to Leader Journal articles.
http://www.pfdf.org

Performance and Results Based Management - Many elected officials, public managers, and business and community leaders have proposed new ways of planning, budgeting, and managing that will hold public officials accountable for helping individual families and communities. This results-based orientation incorporates a number of related purposes, including (1) setting and clarifying goals, (2) redefining the missions and policies of public agencies to further those goals, (3) allocating public resources to support the goals, (4) marshaling support from the private sector to achieve the goals, (5) developing targets and measures to assess progress toward goals, and (6) holding public agencies accountable for meeting goals. Produced by The Finance Project.
http://www.financeprojectinfo.org/results/performance.asp

Program Development and Evaluation - University of Wisconson - Extensive Resources and Training links including publications, workshops and presentations, evaluation studies and instruments and much more. There are practical, easy-to-use guides designed to help better plan and implement credible and useful evaluations. Best Bet.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluation/index.html

Program Development and Evaluation Resources - Department of Community and Leadership Development University of Kentucky. Links to evaluation and accountibility resources. Best Bet.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agpsd/soregion.htm

Program Managers Guide to Evaluation - US Dept of Health and Human Serivces Administration for Children and Families.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/core/pubs_reports/prog_mgr.html

Public/Private Ventures - Publications - At P/PV, they place great emphasis on communicating the lessons of their work. Their publications address a wide range of critical social issues and are of interest to a diverse audience, including policymakers, funders, small and large nonprofit organizations, private companies, civic associations, public agencies, faith-based institutions, and volunteer organizations. Topics include: Youth Mentoring, Volunteering After-school and High Risk; Workforce Development; Community and Faith; Working Ventures; and Replication and Expansion. Best Bet. Many of our publications are available to download.
http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/publications.asp

Quality Leaders Network Outcome Indicators - These pages catalogue examples of outcome indicators/measures that are being recommended or used in many social service agencies. All referenced indicators have been published here with permission of their authors or sponsors. View our resources page for links to other outcomes related websites.
http://www.qualityleaders.net/qnet/outc_child.htm

Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research - This page lists FREE resources for methods in evaluation and social research. The focus is on "how-to" do evaluation research and the methods used: surveys, focus groups, sampling, interviews, and other methods. Most of these links are to resources that can be read over the web. A few, like the GAO books, are for books that can be sent away for, for free (if you live in the US), as well as read over the web. Also included are links to information about human research protection practices, research codes and guidelines, rights of the public, and others related to protection. Table of contents topics include: Organizations, Methods, Policy Analysis, Research about research methods, Statistics, design and some free software, Presenting statistical data and additional links. Best Bet.
http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods/

Results and Performance Accountability Implementation Guide - This guide is intended for those working to implement some form of results or performance accountability in their community, city, school district, county, state or nation. It can be searched by Topic, Question and free form. It has an interesting linked schematic to assist in topic selection as well. There are extensive case studies, tools and other resources. Best Bet.
http://www.raguide.org/Default.htm

Survey Tools Online - Free tools.
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listsurveyci.html

Targeting Outcomes and Programs - TOP - Targeting Outcomes of Programs (TOP) includes a seven-level hierarchy that integrates program evaluation within the program development process. It has been developed by Dr. Kay Rockwell of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dr. Claude Bennett of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA.
http://citnews.unl.edu/TOP/index.html

Technology Opportunity Program - Research, evaluation, and assessment are significant elements of the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP). Since TOP applications are rated in part on their evaluation plans, the resources on this site may help you create and conduct evaluations of information technology projects. In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce TOP has developed Evaluation Guides that help users integrate evaluation into their projects. Best Bet.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/research/Research-Eval-resources.html

Reports: Evaluations, Lessons Learned and Best Practices - In addition to supporting grant competitions, the Technology Opportunities Program seeks to be a catalyst for the development of advanced telecommunications and information services through the exchange of information. In this link, TOP provides information and links to resources for those seeking to learn more about the benefits of using network technologies, as well as those looking for support and blueprints to help in developing their projects. TOP's many publications, evaluation reports, and case studies offer lessons learned from the Program's past grants. These lessons are useful in planning the types of projects that the Program can support.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/publicationmedia/topreports.htm

Research and Evaluation - The Technology Opportunities Program requires all grant recipients to conduct evaluations of their projects. Evaluations based on project goals and objectives are expected to aid in self-monitoring that allows course corrections, assessment of short-term impacts, and development of indicators of long-range impact. Taken collectively, evaluations should provide practitioners in different programmatic areas with guidance in the development of new projects. Further, individual project evaluations provide TOP with information for program planning and design.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/research/research.htm

Evaluation Guide: Community Networking and Service Projects
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/research/CNS.pdf

Evaluation Guide: Lifelong Learning and the Arts
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/research/LLA.pdf

Evaluation Guide: Health Projects
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/research/HEALTH.pdf

Evaluation Guide: Public Safety Projects
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/research/PUBLICSAFETY.pdf

United Way Outcome Measurement Resource Network - The Network purpose is to provide outcome measurement resources and instruction. Sections include: updates with an automatic notification of changes, publications, current projects and resource library. Articles, information, and research studies and reports. Also Youth Program and National Agency links.Best Bet.
http://national.unitedway.org/outcomes/
[ NOVEMBER 1999 FEATURED SITE... more in Featured Sites Index. ]

User Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations- The first publication, User-Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation: Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education, issued in 1993, describes the types of evaluations principal investigators/project directors (PIs/PDs) may be called upon to perform over the lifetime of a project. It also describes in some detail the evaluation process, which includes the development of evaluation questions and the collection and analysis of appropriate data to provide answers to these questions. Although this first handbook discussed both qualitative and quantitative methods, it covered techniques that produce numbers (quantitative data) in greater detail. The current handbook, User-Friendly Guide to Mixed Method Evaluations, builds on the first but seeks to introduce a broader perspective. It was initiated because of the recognition that by focusing primarily on quantitative techniques, evaluators may miss important parts of a story. Experienced evaluators have found that most often the best results are achieved through the use of mixed method evaluations, which combine quantitative and qualitative techniques. Because the earlier handbook did not include an indepth discussion of the collection and analysis of qualitative data, this handbook was initiated to provide more information on qualitative techniques and discuss how they can be combined effectively with quantitative measures.
http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/start.htm

WestEd - WestEd is a nonprofit research, development, and service agency. The agency traces its history back to 1966 when Congress created a network of Regional Educational Laboratories. In 1995, two of those original laboratories — Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development and Southwest Regional Laboratory — joined forces to form WestEd.
http://www.wested.org

What Works Clearinghouse-The What Works Clearinghouse was established by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to provide educators, policymakers, and the public with a central, independent, and trusted source of scientific evidence of what works in education. It is administered by the Department through a contract to a joint venture of the American Institutes for Research and the Campbell Collaboration. Through a set of easily accessible web-based databases, the WWC will provide decision makers with the information they need to make choices based on high-quality scientific research. The WWC will develop standards for reviewing and synthesizing educational research and will provide its findings in several free, searchable, user-friendly databases that include: reviews of potentially replicable interventions (programs, products, and practices) that are intended to enhance student outcomes, information about the evaluation studies on which intervention reviews have been based, scientifically rigorous reviews of test instruments used to assess educational effectiveness, and outcome evaluators (individuals and organizations) willing to conduct evaluations of educational interventions. Best Bet.
http://www.w-w-c.org

Best Practice Sites

Best Practices for Best Practices for Nonprofits: Whatcom Council for Nonprofits
http://www.wcnwebsite.org/practices/index.htm

Contentbank Best Practices
http://www.contentbank.org/bestpractices/index.asp?section_id=51

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
http://www.ed.gov/free/index.html

UPS Best Volunteer Practices
http://www.community.ups.com/community/philanthropy/toolbox.html

National Governors Association Center for Best Practice
http://www.nga.org/center/

Effective Practices for Service Programs
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/

America Connects Consortium: Sustaining, Capacity Building, Program Design and Evaluation links.
http://www.americaconnects.net/resources/

Benton Foundation Library
http://www.benton.org/publibrary/index.html

Community Information Best Practices
http://www.si.umich.edu/libhelp/best.htm

Benchmarking Sites

Public Private Ventures – Reports and Analysis
http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/publications.asp?search_id=0

Promising Practices Network
http://www.promisingpractices.net/default.asp

Center for What Works
http://www.whatworks.org/bm-primer-frame.html

Grantsmanship Center Articles on Benchmarking
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/99winter/bench1.asp

What is the Balanced Scorecard?
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/99winter/bench1.asp

The Balanced Scorecard Institute
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/99winter/bench1.asp

Statistical Information and Data

Census Factfinder
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

Fedstats: Gateway to Statistics from 100 Federal Agencies
http://www.fedstats.gov/

FFIEC Geocoding
http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/default.htm

FFIEC Census Reports
http://www.ffiec.gov/webcensus/ffieccensus.htm

Sperlings Best Places - Statistical Data, Benchmarking on General, People, Economy, Crime, Housing, Health, Education, Climate, Transportation, Schools.
http://www.bestplaces.net/index.html

Statistical Abstract of the United States
http://www.census.gov/statab/www/

Statistical Abstract of the United States
http://www.census.gov/statab/www/

University of Michigan Documents Center: Statistical Resources on the Web
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html

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